ft.  ^  /Si*  ^Dff- 


EXTRACTS  ^ROM  A  REPORT 

OB 

,    J.  LANCASTER'S  PROGRESS, 

FROM  THE  YEAR  179S. 


WITH  THE 

REPORT  OF  THE  FINANCE  COMMITTEE 

FORJHE  YEAR  1810. 

TO  WHICH  IS  PREFIXED  AS 

ADDRESS  OF  THE  COMMITTEE 

FOR  PROMOTING  THE 

ROYAL  LANCASTERIAN  SYSTEM 

FOR  THE 

EDUCATION  OF  THE  POOR. 


WEW-YORK; 

RF.-PBINTED  EROM  THE  LONDON  EDITION  OE  1811 


ADDRESS 


OF  THE 

COMMITTEE 

FOR  PROMOTING  THE 

ROYAL  LANCASTERIAN  SYSTEM 

FOR  THE 

EDUCATION  OF  THE  POOR. 

he  present  address  is  made  to  those,  who,  possessing 
the  common  feelings  of  humanity,  wish  to  see  all  the 
good  bestowed  upon  the  lower  orders  of  their  species, 
of  which  their  place  in  society  admits.  To  all  those 
who  are  not  strangers  to  so  humane  a  sentiment,  it  is  an 
invitation  to  ask  their  own  reason,  whether  the  education 
of  the  poor  is  not  an  advantage  of  this  description  ;  and 
to  afford  us  their  aid,  if  we  can  prove  to  them  that  it 
will  be  attended  with  the  most  beneficial  effects. 

We  present  to  their  consideration  a  plan  for  extend- 
ing to  the  poor  the  knowledge  of  reading,  writing,  and 
common  arithmetic,  more  efficacious,  and  more  econo- 
mical in  respect  to  both  time  and  money,  than  has  hither- 
to been  conceived  to  be  within  the  sphere  of  possibility. 
It  is  a  plan  which,  while  it  calls  upon  the  superior  and 
middling  classes  for  nothing  that  admits  the  name  of  a 
sacrifice,  promises  to  bestow  upon  them  more  able  and 
more  trust- worthy  associates  in  all  the  circumstances  of 
life,  in  which  we  are  dependent  upon  the  co-operation 
and  fidelity  of  our  subordinate  brethren.  It  is  probably 
not  sufficiently  considered  to  what  an  extent  that  de- 
pendence reaches  ;  the  poor  are  our  inmates,  and  our 


4 


guardians.  They  surround  our  tables,  they  surrount 
our  beds,  they  inhabit  our  nurseries.  Our  lives ;  oui 
properties ;  the  minds,  and  the  health  of  our  children 
are  to  an  inconceivable  degree  dependent  upon  theii 
good  or  evil  qualities. 

According  to  the  system  which  Mr.  Lancaster  has  not] 
only  established,  but  already  reduced  to  practice,  and  of 
the  practical  efficacy  of  which  the  most  satisfactory  ex- 
perience has  now  been  obtained,  the  children  of  the 
poor,  before  they  are  old  enough  to  work,  can  be  com- 
pletely taught  the  valuable  acquirements  of  reading, 
writing,  and  arithmetic,  at  an  expense,  even  in  the  metro- 
polis, of  little  more  than  five  shillings  per  annum  for 
each.  It  follows  evidently  from  this  most  important 
fact,  that  by  a  combination  requiring  very  slender  ef- 
forts among  the  benevolent  and  public-spirited  members 
of  the  community,  those  useful  attainments  may  be  ex- 
tended to  the  whole  of  the  rising  generation,  and  the  pi- 
ous wish  of  the  Sovereign  be  fully  accomplished, 
«  THAT  EVERY  POOR  CHILI)  IN  THE  KING- 
DOM SHOULD  BE  ABLE  TO  READ  THE  BI- 
BLE." 

The  points  of  utility  naturally  connected  with  this 
event  are  of  two  kinds,  and  both  in  the  highest  degree 
important.  The  first  respects  the  purposes  to  which  the 
faculties  in  question  might  be  turned  in  die  different  of- 
fices which  devolve  upon  the  lower  orders.  The  second 
respects  the  frame  of  mind  which  is  created  during,  and 
by  the  acquirement. 

1.  It  is  surely  unnecessary  to  point  out  the  innume- 
rable modes  in  which  the  faculties  of  reading,  writing, 
and  accounting,  render  the  lower  orders  more  useful  co- 
adjutors to  us  on  those  occasions  in  which  we  stand  in 
need  of  their  services  ;  as  domestics,  as  artisans,  as  ma- 
nufacturers, as  persons  intrusted  with  the  guardianship, 
the  transfer,  the  improvement  of  our  properly  in  a 
thousand  ways.  It  is  impossible  that  any  man  capable 
of  recalling  to  his  mind  the  number  and  importance  of 


these  occasions,  can  doubt  of  the  prodigious  advantage 
derived  to  society  from  so  great  an  addition  to  the  use- 
ful faculties  of  the  operative  members  of  the  communi- 
ty- 

2.  But  high  as  this  advantage  ought  evidently  to  be 
ranked,  it  is  still  very  inferior  to  that  which  arises  from 
the  frame  of  mind  created  by  the  disci/iline  of  educa- 
tion ;  by  the  habits  of  order,  and  of  the  love  of  rational 
esteem,  which  it  is  its  nature  to  engender.  Let  us  but 
reflect  upon  the  different  modes  in  which  the.  time  re- 
quired for  education  is  spent  by  the  children  of  the  poor, 
when  in  a  school  like  that  of  Mr.  Lancaster's,  and  when 
at  no  school.  If  at  no  school,  their  time  is  for  the  most 
part  at  their  own  disposal ;  it  is  spent  with  idle  compa- 
nions like  themselves,  in  all  the  disorderly  courses  of 
which  idleness  is  the  parent.  Their  life  is,  (upon  their 
own  scale,)  an  exact  picture  of  that  irregularity  in  the 
grown  man,  which  produces  almost  all  the  unprofitable 
and  dangerous  members  of  society  ;  and  it  cannot,  from 
the  known  laws  of  the  human  constitution,  operate 
Otherwise  than  as  a  most  fruitful  seminary  of  this  un- 
happy description  of  persons.  In  a  school  of  Mr.  Lan- 
caster's, on  the  other  hand,  the  children  are  inured  to  ha- 
bits of  order  and  subordination.  They  are  delivered 
from  idleness,  and  from  the  daring  and  disorderly  cour- 
ses for  which  it  gives  a  taste  They  become  habituated 
to  strive  with  one  another  for  superiority  in  useful  arts, 
and  to  look  for  praise  from  the  attainment  of  real  <  x- 
cellence.  Who  sees  not  that  in  the  one  course  of  train- 
ing there  is  every  chance  of  rearing  valuable  members 
of  society  ?  Who  sees  not  that  in  the  other,  there  is 
every  chance  of  rearing  pernicious  ones  ? 

For  the  particular  methods  pursued  in  Mr.  Lancas- 
ter's plan  of  education,  we  must  reler  to  his  own  publi- 
cations. Une  regulation  it  is  necessary  to  state.  In  or- 
der to  obviate  the  scruples  which  parents  and  guardians 
attached  to  any  particular  form  of  Christianity  might  feel 
•with  respect  to  the  religious  instruction  imparted-  in 
a  2 


6 


Mr.  Lancaster's  schools ;  and  in  order  to  extend  the 
benefits  of  his  plan  of  education  to  all  the  religious  de- 
nominations of  the  community,  instead  of  confining 
them  to  one  or  a  few,  it  is  an  inviolable  law  to  teach  no- 
thing but  what  is  the  standard  of  belief  to  all  Christians, 
the  Schiptures  themselves.  The  children  are  not 
only  taught  to  read  the  Bible,  but  are  trained  in  the  ha- 
bit of  reading  it,  and  are  left  entirely  to  the  explanation 
and  commentaries  which  their  parents  or  friends  may 
think  it  their  duty  to  give  them  at  home 

In  the  Borough  school  alone  6,000  children  have  been 
educated,  whose  parents  were  of  the  poorest  descrip- 
tion, and  hitherto  no  instance  has  been  noticed  of  any 
one  of  these  children  being  since  charged  with  a  crimi- 
nal offence  in  any  court  of  justice. 

The  patronage  which  Mr.  Lancaster  has  received, 
particularly  from  their  Majesties  and  the  whole  of  the 
Royal  Fvmily,  having  contributed  powerfully  to  the  ge- 
neral adoption  of  his  plans,  schools  are  now  established 
in  every  county  of  England  ;  several  have  been  erect- 
ed in  Scotland,  and  some  in  Ireland.  As  the  advanta- 
ges of  the  system  arc  more  generally  experienced, 
more  numerous  applications  continue  to  be  made  to  Mr. 
Lancaster  for  assistance  in  the  formation  of  schools  ; 
bringing  along  with  them  an  additional  burthen  of  ex- 
pense, and  a  demand  for  more  extended  means.  It  is 
sufficiently  evident,  that,  in  order  to  disseminate  in  the 
most  perfect  manner  the  benefits  of  the  scheme,  per- 
sons completely  trained  in  its  practical  details,  arc  high- 
ly necessary  to  be  employed  in  conducting  the  first  ope- 
rations of  every  newly-erected  seminary.  Among  the 
youths  who  come  under  Mr.  Lancaster's  care,  it  is  his 
object  to  select  those  who  appear  best  calculated  for  his 
purpose,  and  to  train  them  up  to  become  school-masters 
and  school-mistresses  in  the  new  establishments  which 
are  successively  formed.  The  instances  which  have  al- 
leady  appeared,  of  youths  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  years 
of  age,  conducting,  with  almost  the  regularity  of  a  ma- 


7 


line,  schools  containing  several  hundreds  of  children, 
id  imparting  to  them,  with  unexampled  rapidity,  the 
lements  of  education,  afford  the  most  gratifying  proofs 
f  the  adaptation  of  the  expedients  to  the  great  object  in 
iew.  The  maintenance,  however,  of  the  young  per- 
jns  intended  for  this  office,  during  the  time  of  their 
reparation,  has  been  experienced  to  be  the  grand  source 
f  expense  attending  this  institution,  reaching  far  be- 
ond  the  unaided  exertions  of  any  individual  to  supply. 
In  consideration  of  these  circumstances,  and  in  parti- 
ular  of  the  importance  of  the  last  great  article  of  ex- 
ense,  the  following  Noblemen  and  gentlemen  have 
greed,  in  aid  of  the  indefatigable  and  meritorious  ex- 
rtions  of  the  Founder  of  the  system,  to  act  as  a  com- 
dittee  for  obtaining  subscriptions  and  superintending 
leir  application. 

PRESIDENTS. 

HIS  GRACE  THE  DUKE  OF  BEDFORD. 

THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE  LORD  SO.MERVILLE 

FINANCE  COMMITTEE. 


lie  Most  Noble  the  Marquis  of  Lam- 
down- 

1w  Right  Honourable  Earl  Moira. 

1m  K    ;i;  Hou.  Earl  of  Carvsfort. 

Villi. n.  Adam,  Esq.  M.  P. 

lavkl  Barclay.  Esq. 

vorncy  Ban-lav.  Esq. 

khsard  WilbrabaiK  Bootle,  Esq.  M.  P. 

•t  in)  Brougham,  Esq.  M.  P. 

r.  F."  Buxton.  Esq. 

Thomas  Clarksou,  Esq. 

loaournble  Robert  Clifford. 

aKinard  Currie,  Esq. 

*>  Henry  Englefield,  Bart.  ' 

ohn  Evans,  Esq. 

ov  pli  Fry,  Esq. 

iamuel  Gurney,  Esq. 

3eorgi.-  Harrison,  Esq. 

iamuel  Hoare.jun.  Esq. 

?rancis  Horner,  Esq.  M.  P. 

jeonard  Horner,  Esq. 

Luke  Howard,  Esq. 

dalsey  Janson,  Esq. 

lohu  Pooley  Kensington,  Esq. 


Jonathan  Wathan  Phipps,  Etq. 
|  James  Loch,  Esq. 
I  J.lin  Maitlaml,  Esq.  M.  P. 
!  John  Merirale,  Eso> 
i  James  Mill,  Esq. 
"'  Basil  .VI  .utagu.  Esq. 
j  D.i-.i  el  Moore.  Esq. 

J.  Petty  Muspratt,  Esq. 

Ilk-hard  Philips,  Esq. 

William  Philips.  Esq. 

William  Fosu-i'  Reynolds,  Essj. 

Thomas  Reynolds,  Esq. 
JSamml  Rogers.  Esq 

Sir  Sarin  .  Romilly,  M.  P. 

John  Smith,  Esq.  M.  P.. 

Joseph  Smith.  Esq. 

William  Smith,  E,q.  M.  P. 

Honourable  Captain  James  Stanhope- 
Henry  Sterry,  Esq. 

Joseph  Fitzwilltam  Vandercom,  Esq. 

William  Vauihan,  Esq. 

John  Walter,  Esq. 

Samuel  Whitbread,  Esq.  M.  P. 

Samuel  Woods,  Esq. 


Tnuien.  William  Allen,  Esq.  William  Corston,  Esq.  Joseph  Foster,  Esq.  Joseph 
Fm,  Esq.  John  Jackson,  Esq.  M.  P.  Thomas  Sluice,  Esq.  j 


Secretory.    Joseph  Fos,  Esq. 


REPORT 

OF 

JOSEPH  LANCASTER'S  PROGRES* 

FROM 

THE  YEAR  1798 


he  plan  of  the  school  at  first  was  a  fiay  school ;  th«| 
terms  being  fixed  so  low  as  to  reduce  the  price  of  edu 
cation  one  half  for  each  child.  The  undertaking  wa: 
began  under  the  hospitable  roof  of  an  affectionate  pa> 
rent :  my  father  gave  the  school-room,  rent  free,  and  af 
ter  fitting  up  the  forms  and  desks  myself,  I  had  the 
pleasure,  before  I  was  eighteen,  of  having  near  ninety 
children  under  instruction,  many  of  whom  I  educated 
free  of  expense.  As  the  number  of  scholars  continued 
to  increase,  I  soon  hud  occasion  to  rent  larger  premises, 

A  season  of  scarcity  brought  the  wants  of  poor 
families  closely  under  my  notice  :  at  this  time  a  number 
of  very  liberal  persons  enabled  me  to  feed  the  hungry 
children.  In  the  course  of  this  happy  exertion,  I  be- 
came intimately  acquainted  with  the  state  of  many  in- 
dustrious poor  families,  whose  necessities  had  prevented 
the  payment  of  the  small  price  of  their  children's  tui- 
tion, some  of  whom  had  accumulated  arrears  for  many 
weeks.  In  every  such  case  I  remitted  the  arrears,  and 
continued  the  children's  instruction  free  of  expense  ;  | 
by  this  the  number  of  free  scholars  was  considerably  in- 
creased ;  and  I  soon  found  the  necessities  of  the  poor 
would  fill  the  school  with  a  great  number,  whose  pa- 
rents were  not  able  to  afford  a  trifling  pittance  for  the:- 
education. 


9 


The  principle  of  school  government  and  rewards 
which  I  had  introduced,  had  a  most  beneficial  influence 
on  the  neighbourhood.  The  children  came  in  for  edu- 
cation like  flocks  of  sheep ;  and  the  number  so  greatly 
increased,  as  to  place  me  in  that  state  of  necessity, 
which  is  said  to  be  the  mother  of  invention.  The  old 
plan  of  education  in  which  I  had  been  practically  con- 
versant, was  daily  proved  inadequate  to  the  purposes  of 
instruction  on  a  large  scale.  In  every  respect  I  had  to 
explore  a  new  and  untrodden  path.  I  had  to  decide 
whether  to  make  the  plan  of  education  adequate  to  the 
number  of  applicants,  or  to  dismiss  the  greater  part  of 
my  scholars,  who  could  not  be  instructed  on  the  old  sys- 
tem, and  who,  if  discharged,  must  have  remained  in  a 
state  of  mournful  ignorance.  My  continual  endeavours 
lave  been  happily  crowned  with  success,  by  enabling 
■ne  at  the  period  to  which  I  allude,  to  extend  my  local 
institution,  and  to  multiply  fac  simile*  of  it  not  only  for 
-his  nation,  but  I  trust  for  every  other  in  the  world, 
^bout  1804,  the  school  doors  were  thrown  open  for  all 
hat  would  send  their  children,  and  have  them  educated 
reely:  and  on  that  plan  the  institution  has  continued 
:ver  since.  It  came  to  be  demonstrated,  that  seven 
hildren  could  be  educated  for  a  guinea,  instead  of  one, 
s  was  first  proposed.  I  wish  my  friends,  in  considering 
lie  progress  of  this  plan,  to  remember,  that  1  set  out 
•  it h  some  advantages,  arising  not  from  large  funds,  or 
lany  advisers,  but  from  my  peculiar  situation  and  con- 
exions. — A  youth  of  eighteen,  entering  into  my  first 
mrsuit  with  all  the  energy  I  was  capable  of — a  father's 
ible — free  from  expensive  habits— -a  simple  manner  of 
ving — and  having  no  rent  to  pay — a  stranger  to  the 
>ve  of  gain — relying  on  the  blessing  of  Heaven  to 
rosper  my  exertions.  Thus  circumstanced  at  that 
me,  great  as  my  difficulties  have  been,  hard  things 
ave  become  easy,  and  rough  ways  plain  before  me. 

Into  the  hands  of  a  few  friends,  now  constituted  my 
ustees,  1  have  committed  my  financial  concerns  for 


10 


the  three  last  years;  and  during  that  time,  they  have 
conducted  all  my  affairs  with  the  greatest  good  to  the 
poor,  by  enabling  me  to  spread  the  knowledge  and  prac- 
tice of  the  plan  in  the  country.  By  superintending  my 
financial  concerns,  public  and  private,  in  my  absencei 
with  liberal  sacrifices  of  time  and  attention,  as  well  as 
advances  of  money,  every  thing  is  now  happily  brought 
to  that  state  of  maturity,  which  will  lead  to  the  hope  of 
public  support  to  a  system,  which  has  already  spread  in 
part  over  the  land,  and  may  yet  make  a  more  extensive 
progress.  Thus  may  the  blessings  of  education  be  dif- 
fused over  the  land,  and  like  the  showers  of  heaven, 
convert  the  desert  and  the  wilderness  into  a  fruitful 
field. 

After  spending  above  fourteen  years  in  this  useful 
pursuit,  I  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  parent  insti- 
tution in  very  high  prosperity,  of  witnessing  the  exten- 
sion of  its  benefits  to  tens  of  thousands  of  poor  children 
in  the  nation,  and  of  anticipating  its  continued  useful- 
ness by  the  system  there  invented  to  the  very  end  of 
time.  The  delight  it  has  daily  afforded  this  very  sea- 
son to  large  numbers  of  persons  who  have  visited  it, 
has  been  of  the  most  gratifying  nature.  Nor  can  I  omit 
one  pleasing  circumstance.  During  six  weeks  of  the 
present  year,  I  have  been  suffering  under  a  rheumatic 
illness,  originally  contracted  from  travelling  by  night 
after  lecturing.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year  the  num- 
ber of  new  schools  to  be  organized  was  such,  as  to  re- 
quire the  attendance  of  every  master  I  could  set  at  li- 
berty. Among  others  the  master  of  the  Royal  Free 
School,  Borough  Road,  was  sent  to  Chichester,  to  t 
school  for  three  hundred  children,  opened  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Richmond  ;  ant 
in  his  absence  I  took  charge  of  his  own  school  for  him 
At  this  time  illness  rather  suddenly  confined  me  to  mj 
bed,  and  the  monitor-general  of  the  school,  Maurice 
Cross,  an  interesting  boy  of  fourteen,  took  charge  of 
and  governed  the  school  in  a  most  pleasing  and  gratify 


11 


ing  manner.  Many  visitors  came  to  sec  the  school 
while  I  was  confined  to  my  bed,  and  expressed  the  high- 
est approbation  of  the  steadiness  and  ability  of  the  lad, 
who  on  such  an  occasion  could  so  effectually  supply  my 
place. 

The  effects  of  this  institution  on  the  morals  of  youth, 
in  training  good  members  of  society,  have  been  tried, 
and  proved  most  happily  successful.  1  cannot  pass  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  any  part  of  Southwark,  without 
meeting  many  lads  who  address  me  in  accents  of  the 
most  cordial  welcome  ;  who  are  growing  up  to  maturi- 
ty, and  going  on  happily  in  that  state  of  life  for  which 
they  appeared  destined.  I  feel  among  them  the  glow 
of  parental  affection,  when  I  see  them  with  their  baskets 
or  loads  on  their  shoulders  in  the  character  of  honest 
and  worthy  labourers  or  artificers,  having  contented 
cheerfulness  and  steadiness  united  in  their  character. 

The  general  conduct  of  these  youth  is  such,  as  to 
prove  the  falsehood  of  the  degrading  assertion  made  by 
:he  partizans  of  ignorance,  that  the  poor  of  this  land  of 
iberty  are  necessarily  doomed  to  the  drudgery  of  daily 
abour,  and  that  teaching  them  to  write  and  cypher 
vould  only  make  them  discontented  with  their  lot.  I 
lave  instructed  thousands,  and  have  the  happiness  of 
ibserving  among  them  the  most  contented  and  the  most 
rorthy  members  of  society. 

A  great  number  of  persons  have  been  instructed  in 
he  system  at  the  Royal  Free  School.  By  many  of 
hese  its  benefits  have  been  diffused  over  the  nation, 
'rom  this  center,  instruction  to  the  poor  has  flowed 
irough  the  empire,  and  continues  to  do  so  with  more 
dvantage  than  ever. 

During  a  severe  illness,  which,  in  1809,  confined  me 
)  my  bed  some  weeks  at  Bristol,  the  master  of  that 
;hool,  who  had  been  educated  from  an  early  age  in  my 
wn,  attended  me  in  all  my  painful  illness,  with  the 
iost  filial  affection.  A  boy,  only  thirteen  years  of  age, 
apt  school  for  him  with  so  great  success,  that  when  my 


12 


recovery  enabled  me  to  return  to  town,  being  in  a  feeble 
staie.  I  required  the  master  to  accompany  me,  and  dur- 
ing a  week's  absence,  this  lad  was  sole  governor  of  the 
school.  This  boy  had  obtained  his  knowledge  of  read- 
ing, writing,  and  arithmetic,  in  the  Bristol  school,  in  less 
than  eighteen  months ;  on  coming  in,  he  was  in  one  of 
the  lowest  classes,  and  at  the  end  of  twelve  months  he 
excelled  every  boy  in  the  school,  and  had  become  moni- 
tor-general. The  committee  visited  the  school  in  the 
master's  absence,  and  found  this  excellent  lad,  to  use  a 
school-boy's  expression,  "  king  of  the  castle."  This 
order  and  excellent  conduct  did  not  pass  unrewarded. 
The  committee  subscribed  among  themselves  a  sum  of 
money,  to  make  him  a  present  of  a  new  silver  watch, 
with  a  suitable  inscription.  Upon  my  recovery,  1  re- 
turned to  Bristol,  and  again  lectured  there ;  and  when 
speaking  on  the  subject  of  rewards,  I  gave  the  lad  his 
watch  in  the  name  of  the  committee,  specifying  his  con- 
duct. He  received  his  prize  with  joy  amidst  the  plau- 
dits of  eight  hundred  persons,  among  whom  his  father! 
and  mother  were  not  the  least  happy ;  and  who  but  fori 
the  school  at  Bristol,  would  have  been  unable  to  educate 
him. 

It  not  being  judged  proper  at  that  time  to  enlarge  the 
family  in  Southwark,  I  boarded  and  clothed  him  in  Bris-j 
tol  for  twelve  months  ;  after  which  I  received  him  home 
to  the  Borough.    In  a  short  time  he  was  placed  as  mas-i 
ter  at  a  school  at  Southgate,  built  and  supported  by  my 
friend,  John  Walker,  Esq.  to  extend  the  blessing  oi 
education  to  the  poor  children  in  that  neighbourhood  ; 
my  worthy  friend  speaks  in  the  most  pleasing  manner  ol 
the  ability  and  good  conduct  of  this  amiable  and  excel- 
lent boy.    In  this  statement  is  the  pleasing  history  ol 
a  boy,  whose  talents  would  have  most  likely  been  buried 
under  the  rubbish  of  ignorance,  had  not  the  facilities  o' 
this  system  developed  them ;  this,  however,  is  but  ont 
proof  of  many  which  might  be  adduced  of  the  gooc 
(lone  by  it.    An  ignorant  lad  comes  to  school  in  1807,  ir 


ibout  two  years  after  he  is  able  to  conduct  the  insutu- 
ion  in  which  he  obtained  his  learning ;  in  three  years, 
ifter  a  little  instruction  in  the  Borough  Road,  he  proves 
liimself  qualified  to  conduct  a  large  school,  to  the  satis- 
ac.ion  of  his  immediate  patron,  and  the  delight  of  all 
that  visit  it. 

To  bring  all  the  instances  I  might  advance,  would 
fill  a  volume,  instead  of  a  brief  report.  I  must  not, 
however,  omit  one  lad,  James  George  Penney.  About 
the  year  1805,  this  boy  attended  the  school  in  South- 
wark  ;  he  was  fatherless,  and  his  mother  poor.  At  that 
time  he  would  often  come  to  school  in  the  morning,  and 
remain  there  till  night  without  any  dinner;  this  was 
soon  discovered  by  his  feeling  school-fellows,  some  of 
whom  dried  up  the  tears  which  hunger  occasioned,  and 
supplied  his  wants  by  a  contribution  of  bread  and  meat, 
which  some  of  them  were  pleased  to  call  "  a  parish  din- 
ner." This  circumstance  coming  to  my  knowledge,  and 
knowing  him  to  be  an  excellent  boy,  I  took  him  into  my 
house.  At  first  he  appeared  dull  from  habitual  depres- 
sion. The  close  of  the  year  before  last,  he  was  sent  in- 
to Shropshire,  and  spent  about  six  months  there,  in  the 
house  of  a  most  liberal  and  excellent  clergyman.  The 
first  village  school  that  he  organized  was  for  250  chil- 
dren ;  and  such  was  the  progress  made  by  the  scholars, 
that,  in  one  case,  the  clergyman  was  applied  to  by  a 
man  to  inform  him  if  such  improvement  could  be  made, 
by  any  thing  short  of  witchcraft.  This  worthy  boy  did 
not  leave  that  part  of  the  nation  without  organizing 
schools  for  near  1,000  children,  which  number  is  likely 
to  be  doubled  in  the  ensuing  summer,  many  persons  of 
influence  in  that  part  of  the  country  having  been  con- 
vinced of  the  great  good  to  be  obtained  by  the  univer- 
sal diffusion  of  knowledge  among  the  lower  orders  of 
society.  This  lad  is  now  settled  at  Bath,  over  a  school 
of  300  children ;  and  my  accounts  from  Sir  Horace 
B 


14 

Mann,  Bart,  the  President,  speak  highly  of  the  state  ol 
the  school  and  conduct  of  the  master. 

An  excellent  lad,  not  fourteen,  has  just  materially 
aided  the  organization  of  the  school  at  Coventry  for  400 
children.  The  committee,  to  express  their  sense  of  his 
services,  have  voluntarily  allowed  for  his  board,  &c.  at 
the  rate  of  601.  per  annum  :  this  is  not  quoted  as  a  pre- 
cedent, but  as  a  proof  of  the  boy's  activity  and  merits. 
A  boy  of  seventeen  keeps  a  school  at  Newbury  for  200 
children  ;  another  at  Chiches>ter,  about  eighteen,  will 
soon  have  300.  These  facts  prove,  that  this  system  pos- 
sesses the  power  of  accomplishing  considerable  good 
with  small  means. 

A  young  man  just  turned  of  twenty,  and  educated  in 
the  Borough  Road,  conducted  a  school  at  Bradley  before 
he  was  sixteen,  and  had  the  thanks  of  the  Duke  of  So- 
merset for  his  excellent  conduct  and  usefulness.  After 
this,  he  organized  schools  in  Liverpool,  and  several  other 
places  with  reputation  and  credit.  He  sometime  ago 
settled  in  Birmingham  with  a  school  of  400  children, 
which  it  is  hoped  will  soon  be  extended  to  a  thousand. — 
The  instances  of  real  and  extensive  usefulness  among 
my  young  men  and  boys  are  so  numerous  and  interest- 
ing, that  I  purpose  to  take  the  first  leisure  opportunity 
to  publish  them  as  a  sort  of  history  of  this  system. 

In  the  Girls'  School,  Borough  Road,  a  new  manner  of 
teaching  needle-work  has  been  invented.  As  the  parti- 
culars will  soon  be  published  by  my  sister  and  niece,  I 
shall  only  say,  that  one  mistress  may  teach  any  number 
of  scholars  with  no  more  trouble  than  attends  my  system 
as  to  tuition  in  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  ;  and 
that  it  is  not  likely  the  least  difficulty  can  arise,  in  find- 
ing abundant  materials  to  employ  three  hundred  thou- 
sand girls,  if  so  many  were  to  be  placed  immediately  in 
new  schools,  and  this  at  so  cheap  a  rate  as  scarcely  to 
deserve  the  name  of  expense. 


15 


Before  this  Report  is  closed,  I  must  beg  leave  to  re- 
mark, that,  in  a  subject  in  which  I  am  so  personally  con- 
cerned, it  was  almost  impossible  to  avoid  the  appearance 
of  egotism ;  but  I  trust,  connected  as  it  is  with  details 
necessary  for  me  to  give,  that  every  defect  in  the  man- 
ner will  be  overlooked,  when  the  value  of  the  object  in 
view  is  considered. 

I  have  the  happiness  to  say,  I  have  abundant  docu- 
ments to  prove  the  truth  of  my  reports,  and  the  utility 
of  my  lectures  in  the  country,  are  fully  evinced  by  the 
public  and  official  resolutions  of  many  of  the  leading 
cities  ami  towns  in  the  empire. 

I  shall  now  subjoin  an  extract  from  the  minutes  of 
the  Trustees,  and  cannot  forbear  expressing  my  hope 
that  this  system  of  education,  which  has  now  proved  it- 
self to  be  of  national  importance,  will,  by  the  liberal 
sanction  of  a  British  public,  be  made  a  powerful  engine 
for  improving  the  morals,  and  thus  promoting  the  happi- 
ness of  my  country.  Joseph  Lancaster. 


Extract  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Trustees, 
March  28th,  1811. 

"  The  Trustees  examined  the  vouchers  produced 
by  Joseph  Lancaster  relative  to  the  expenditure  which 
had  taken  place  prior  to  the  formation  of  the  Committee 
in  1808,  and  have  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  they  are 
perfectly  correct,  and  most  satisfactorily  account  for  the 
said  expenditure  ;  and  they  find,  that  during  the  time 
i'nat  they  have  had  the  care  of  his  affairs,  he  has  expend- 
ed above  1,000/.  the  produce  of  his  lectures,  in  travel- 
ling, and  preparing  for  the  same  ;  that  he  has  main- 
tained himself  during  this  period  by  the  profits  of  his 
publications  and  printing  office  ;  and  in  having  educated 
above  6,000  children  free  of  expense,  at  the  lowest  rate 
of  payment,  the  sum  of  7,500/.  has  been  given  to  the 
education  of  the  poor." 


REPORT 


OF 

THE  FINANCE  COMMITTEE 

OF  THE 

INSTITUTION 

FOR  PROMOTING  THE 

KOYAL  LANCASTERIAN  SYSTEM 

FOR  THE 

EDUCATION  OF  THE  POOR, 

TO  THE 

GENERAL  MEETING  OF  SUBSCRIBERS, 

MAY  11,  1811. 

In  presenting  the  following  Report  of  the  Royal  Lan- 
casterian  Institution*  for  promoting  the  education  of  the 
poor,  the  Finance  Committee  trust  that  the  subscribers 
will  view  with  pleasure  the  success  which  now  attends 
this  most  important  undertaking. 

It  is  well  known,  that  by  the  improvements  mp.de  by 
Mr.  Lancaster  in  the  art  of  communicating  instruction, 
the  business  of  education  is  reduced  to  a  perfect  system, 
and  benefits  similar  to  those  which  have  attended  the 
establishment  of  the  Royal  Free  School  in  the  Borough 
Road,  may  be  extended  to  every  town  or  populous  dis- 
trict. The  principal  requisites  are,  spacious  school- 
rooms, and  school-masters  who  have  been  instructed  on 
the  principles  of  the  system. 

The  formation  of  new  schools,  and  the  providing  of 
qualified  teachers,  are  the  objects  which  have  chiefly 


13 


ijngrossed  the  attention  of  Mr.  Lancaster  during  the 
jastyear.  For  this  purpose  he  has  given  public  lec- 
j  ires,  descriptive  of  his  plan,  in  many  parts  of  the  king- 
lam  where  the  establishment  of  schools  has  been  desir- 
Idor  much  needed.  He  has  taken  different  journies, 
:cturing  in  the  towns  lying  in  a  particular  route. 

In  England  he  has  lectured  at  Reading,  Newbury, 
iath,  Bristol,  Gloucester,  Chichester,  Portsmouth,  Nor- 
wich, Ipswich,  Bury,  Yarmouth,  Lodden,  Nottingham, 
Uorthampton,  Leicester,  Loughborough,  Wellinbo- 
ough,  Coventry,  Derby,  Manchester,  Leeds,  Newcastle, 
■hields,  Alnwick,  Berwick,  and  Carlisle.  In  Scotland 
c  was  received  with  much  approbation,  and  delivered 
ictures  in  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow,  at  which  cities,  as 
veil  as  in  most  of  the  other  places,  committees  have 
een  formed  for  raising  subscriptions  for  the  erecting  of 
chool-rooms.  It  is  hoped  that  in  Ireland  also  the  plan 
.ill  shortly  be  fully  introduced  ;  a  large  school-room  has 
een  built  in  Belfast,  and  the  Committee  have  applied 
or  a  school-master.  The  following  concise  statement 
/ill  exhibit  the  ardour,  with  which  Mr.  Lancaster  pur- 
ues  the  benevolent  object  of  promoting  the  education 
if  the  lower  classes  of  the  people.  In  the  year  1810,  he 
ook  seven  journies,  travelling  in  the  whole  3775  miles  ; 
\t  delivered  67  lectures  to  audiences  composed  of 
!3,500  persons,  the  effect  of  which  lectures  has  been,  that 
0  new  schools  are  founded,  in  which  not  less  than  14 
>r  15,000  children  will  be  educated.  These  lectures  are 
attended  by  a  double  good,  a  knowledge  of  the  plan  of 
nstruction  is  diffused,  and  an  opportunity  is  afforded  to 
he  richer  public  to  display  their  liberality,  by  adopting 
he  system  for  the  benefit  of  their  poorer  neighbours  ; 
md  it  is  truly  gratifying  to  behold  the  spirit  of  chris- 
.ian  philanthropy,  which  animates  all  ranks  of  the  com- 
munity, in  their  endeavours  to  chase  the  clouds  of  igno- 
rance from  our  highly  favoured  island. 

B  2 


18 


To  provide  school-masters  for  the  many  school'  j 
which  have  been  opened  during  the  past  year,  and  t<  I 
prepare  others  for  the  schools  expected  to  be  opened  ii  I 
the  course  of  the  present,  has  been  an  arduous  task. 

It  has  been  highly  gratifying  to  the  Committee,  whilsil 
they  have  most  anxiously  exerted  themselves  in  solicit  I 
ing  the  necessary  funds,  to  defray  the  very  essential,  bu  I 
expensive  part  of  the  institution,  in  boarding  and  cloth  ] 
ing  the  young  people  under  training  for  school-mastenri 
that  the  labours  of  Mr.  Lancaster  have  been  attendee  I 
with  so  much  success ;  having  received  the  sanction  MM 
only  of  the  public  in  general,  but  also  of  characters  tht 
most  distinguished  and  exalted.    On  his  arrival  at  Aln- 
wick, he  was  invited  to  the  Castle  by  his  Grace  the 
Duke  of  Northumberland,  who  received  him  in  the  mosi 
condescending  manner,  and  stated  his  intention  of  build- 
ing a  school  room  at  Alnwick,  and  bearing  all  the  fu. 
ture   charges  of  the  school.     '1  he  foundation  of  this 
school  was  laid  on  the  late  Anniversary  of  His  Majesty'! 
Accession,  and  will  shortly  be  opened  ;  his  Grace  has 
desired  Mr.  Lancaster  to  furnish  him  with  a  qualified 
school -master 

•  The  Royal  Free  School,  in  the  Borough  Road,  was 
visited  last  autumn  by  their  Royal  Highnesses  the  Dukes 
of  Kent  and  Cambridge,  who  examined  with  great  atten- 
tion the  operation  of  a  system  of  truly  national  import- 
ance, exhibiting  the  stages  of  intellectual  improvement, 
through  several  hundred  children,  from  that  of  the  child 
who  is  learning  to  repeat  the  letters  of  the  alphabet,  to 
that  of  the  most  advanced  in  the  school,  who  have  ac- 
quired a  competent  knowledge  of  reading,  writing,  and 
arithmetic.  The  attention  of  their  Royal  Highnesses  to 
the  children,  together  with  the  commendations  bestow- 
ed on  those  who  excelled,  at  once  excited  them  to  re- 
newed diligence,  and  created  an  affectionate  regard  to 
the  family  of  our  beloved  Sovereign,  producing  in  the 
vouthful  mind  the  most  lively  feelings  of  loyalty. 


19 

The  school  was  likewise  visited  very  lately  by  his 
Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  w  ho  inspected 
the  whole  system  with  the  greatest  care,  and  departed 
highly  gratified  with  the  truly  interesting  spectacle. 

His  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Kent,  has  set  a  most 
important  example,  by  introducing  the  Lancasterian 
system  into  the  army,  having  attached  a  school  to  his 
own  regiment.  The  school  consists  of  the  children  of 
the  privates,  and  amounts  to  2"0  ;  a  young  man,  a  ser- 
geant in  the  regiment,  was  trained  for  the  school-mas- 
ter at  the  Borough  Road,  and  the  school  was  instituted 
at  Maiden,  in  Essex,  where  the  regiment  was  then  quar- 
tered. Great  credit  is  due  to  Lieutenant-colonel 
M'Leod,  and  the  other  officers,  who  co-operated  with 
their  Royal  Commander  in  his  benevolent  design.  The 
regiment  lately  removed  its  quarters  to  Dunbar,  where 
the  establishment  was  carried  on.  Mr  Lancaster  on 
his  journey  to  Scotland  found  it  in  an  excellent  state  of 
order.  By  permission  of  the  Duke,  a  number  of  these 
boys  went  to  Edinburgh,  to  illustrate  the  system  in  the 
lecture  delivered  there  by  Mr.  Lancaster.  The  regi- 
ment is  now  quartered  at  Stirling  ;  and  the  school,  at 
the  request  of  the  magistrates,  is  kept  in  the  Guild-hall 
of  Stirling  Castle,  many  of  the  town's  children  partici- 
pating in  its  benefits.  The  Committee  have  great  plea- 
sure in  adding,  ihat  the  commanders  of  several  military 
depots,  and  also  of  militia  regiments,  have  applied  to 
Mr  L.  for  assistance  in  forming  schools.  In  last  March, 
Mr.  L.  opened  a  school  at  Windsoiyestablished  by  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Newdigate,  for  the  children  of  the  pri- 
vates of  the  King's  own  regiment  of  Staffordshire  mili- 
tia ;  and  it  is  hoped,  that  these  examples  will  speedily 
be  followed  by  all  commanders.  On  joining  the  Duke 
of  Kent's  regiment,  if  a  recruit  is  found  incapable  of 
reading,  he  is  sent  to  the  school,  and  as  a  powerful  sti- 
mulus to  exertion,  those  who  make  a  good  proficiency 


20 


in  learning,  are  put  clown  as  duplicate  non-commission- 
ed officers. 

Of  the  new  schools  lately  formed,  that  at  Fenny  Strat- 
ford, Bedfordshire,  merits  particular  notice,  on  account 
of  some  circumstances  deserv  ing  to  be  recorded  for  ge- 
neral imitation. 

The  Lancasterian  school  at  Wobourn,  established  by 
his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  had  attracted  the  atten- 
tion oi  a  few  individuals  residing  at  Fenny  Stratford ; 
who  having  visited  this  school,  and  witnessed  its  bene- 
fits, were  so  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  value  and  im- 
portance of  the  system,  as  to  determine  upon  the  esta- 
blishment of  one  for  the  youth  of  their  own  neighbour- 
hood. But  these  worthy  men  were  not  rich;  no  suita- 
ble place  for  a  school-room  was  to  be  found,  and  they 
could  not  expect  to  raise  sufficient  funds  by  way  of  gift, 
equal  to  the  expense  of  building  a  school-room.  This 
difficulty  was  obviated  by  raising  subscriptions  in  the 
way  of  loan,  in  shares  of  ten  pounds  each,  to  receive  in- 
terest  for  their  money  as  the  rent  of  the  place.  The 
shares  are  transferrable,  and  may  be  paid  off  as  the  Com- 
mittee may  be  enabled  to  do  it  by  future  donations  ;  but 
the  building  is  never  to  be  appropriated  to  any  but  the 
original  purpose. 

The  spirited  conduct  of  these  few  individuals,  soon 
attracted  the  notice  of  the  neighbouring  gentry  and  cler- 
gy, several  of  whom  have  given  donations  and  annual 
subscriptions  to  a  considerable  amount ;  and  the  insti- 
tution now  bids  fair  to  meet  with  success  equal  to  its 
merit. 

On  New  Year's  Day  of  the  present  year  1811,  schools 
were  opened  at  Reading  for  400  boys,  at  Chichester  for 
200,  at  Brecon  for  150,  and  at  Coventry  for  300;  many 
other  schools  are  in  a  state  of  forwardness,  and  will  be 
opened  soon. 

The  Lancasterian  system  of  education  being  calculat- 
ed for  universal  adoption,  it  has  been  an  essential  pain* 


21 


with  Mr.  L.  and  his  friends,  to  extend  its  benefits  to 
foreign  parts;  and  as  education  must  be  considered  the 
parent  of  all  civilization,  Africa  has  engaged  a  consider- 
able portion  of  their  attention  :  with  this  view  a  young 
man,  a  native  of  Africa,  brought  to  this  country  by  a 
person  who  had  purchased  him  in  the  West  Indies,  hav- 
ing expressed  to  a  gentleman  his  fears,  that  if  taken 
back  by  his  master,  he  would  be  again  sold  and  fall  into 
slavery,  he  was  humanely  informed  by  this  gentleman,  of 
the  rights  he  could  exercise  in  Britain ;  on  which  he 
quitted  his  master.  The  case  of  this  youth  having  been 
represented  to  Mr.  L.  and  it  appearing  that  he  possessed 
good  abilities,  it  was  resolved  that  he  should  be  admit- 
ted into  the  house,  and  trained  for  a  school-master,  in 
the  hope  that,  on  a  future  occasion,  he  might  be  useful 
in  this  capacity  in  his  native  country,  and  be  the  means 
of  establishing  the  Lancasterian  system,  amongst  ihe 
hitherto  oppressed  inhabitants  of  Africa.  The  talents 
and  perseverance  of  this  youth  raised  the  most  sanguine 
expectations  of  his  future  usefulness.  It  is  therefore 
with  grief  the  Committee  are  obliged  to  report,  that  all 
those  expectations  have  vanished  with  respect  to  his  in- 
strumentality ;  as  after  a  short  illness,  he  died  suddenly, 
in  the  month  of  August,  in  consequence  of  the  breaking 
of  a  large  abscess  which  had  formed  in  his  lungs. 

Depressing  as  this  melancholy  event  has  been,  the 
Committee  have  to  mention  with  much  satisfaction,  that 
the  system  is  still  likely  to  be  extended  to  Africa,  as  the 
missionaries  Wilhelm  and  Klein,  who  are  destined  to 
that  part  of  the  globe,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Socie- 
ty for  Missions  to  Africa  and  the  East,  have  received 
the  most  ample  instruction,  by  a  daily  attendance  at  the 
Borough  Road  school  for  near  two  months ;  and  there 
is  no  doubt,  but  that  by  their  zealous  exertions,  much 
good  will  be  done  to  the  children  of  the  natives  of  Afri- 
ca, who  it  is  understood  are  exceedingly  desirous  to  be 
instructed  in  what  they  term,  U  the  white  man's  book." 


The  Committee  cannot  forbear  expressing  their  ad- 
miration of  the  plan  of  this  society,  and  they  trust  that, 
by  the  formation  of  schools,  a  sure  foundation  will  be 
laid  for  much  progress  in  the  civilization  of  Africa. 

Beside  the  instruction  of  these  Missionaries,  who 
seem  to  be  men  of  considerable  intelligence  and  ability, 
the  Committee  have  thought  it  their  duty  to  seek  for 
native  Africans  who  may  be  qualified  as  school-mas- 
ters ;  and  to  realize  this  very  desirable  object,  they  have, 
by  a  communication  to  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Gloucester,  Patron,  and  to  the  Directors  of  the  African 
institution,  offered  to  board  and  educate,  at  the  expense 
of  the  Lancasterian  Institution,  two  African  youths,  of 
good  abilities,  to  be  selected  by  the  Directors,  in  order 
that  they  may  be  qualified  as  school-masters  for  the  sta- 
tions of  the  institution  in  Africa. 

It  is  with  much  satisfaction  the  Committee  have  heard 
of  the  increased  extension  of  the  Lancasterian  system 
in  North  America;  in  addition  to  the  schools  establish- 
ed in  New-York  and  Philadelphia,  accounts  have  been 
received  of  the  opening  of  one  at  Boston  ;  and  lately  a 
very  respectable  application  has  been  made  to  Mr.  L. 
from  a  society  formed  for  the  education  of  the  poor  in 
George-Town,  Maryland  :  this  society  has  requested  a 
suitable  school-master,  that  they  may  be  assured  of  the 
perfection  of  the  plan. 

They  are  also  happy  to  be  able  to  announce,  that, 
there  is  a  prospect  of  the  introduction  of  this  system 
into  South  America.  The  deputies  from  Caraccas,  in 
company  with  General  Miranda,  visited  the  Royal  Free 
School,  and  have  left  this  country  with  the  intention  of 
sending  over  two  young  men  to  be  instructed  by  Mr.  L. 
The  most  pleasing  intelligence  has  been  received  from 
Antigua  of  the  success  which  has  attended  the  efforts 
of  a  benevolent  individual,  who  had  formed  schools  on 
this  plan  for  above  900  souls.  The  Committee  judged 
it  expedient  to  present  this  gentleman  with  all  the  rc- 


23 


quisile  lessons,  &c.  for  the  complete  out-fit  of  two 
schools. 

All  these  circumstances  tend  strongly  to  encourage 
the  Committee  to  continue  their  exertions  in  support  of 
a  discovery,  which  cannot  fail  to  be  a  blessing  to  the 
whole  human  race. 

By  the  statement  of  receipts  and  disbursements,  it 
will  be  seen,  that  the  income  of  the  institution,  is  by  no 
means  adequate  to  the  unavoidable  expenses  of  the  es- 
tablishment. The  Committee  have  to  acknowledge  with 
gratitude  the  very  handsome  donation  of  525/.  from  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  ;  and  also  the  liberal 
donation  of  200/.  sent  in  a  letter  to  one  of  their  num- 
ber, John  Jackson,  Esq.  M.  P.  with  the  signature  A.  D. 
K.  These  munificent  gifts  enabled  them  to  extend  ma- 
ny of  the  advantages  of  the  institution,  particularly  that 
of  taking  into  the  house  twelve  lads  of  promising  abili- 
ties, in  addition  to  those  already  in  the  establishment, 
making  in  the  whole,  thirty  young  people  to  be  trained 
as  school-masters  :  this  expensive  part  of  the  institution 
must  be  regarded  as  one  of  its  main  springs,  because  it 
is  self-evident,  that  new  schools  cannot  be  properly  or- 
ganized unless  there  are  persons  duly  qualified  to  su- 
perintend them. 

The  British  System  of  Education  having,  under  the 
fostering  patronage  of  our  beloved  Sovereign,  and  his 
illustrious  family,  become  an  object  of  national  concern, 
Mr.  Lancaster  has  found  it  expedient  that  his  establish- 
ment, which  for  the  last  three  years  has  been  privately 
aided  by  a  small  Financial  Committee,  should  now  be- 
come a  more  public  institution,  with  the  aid  of  a  large 
Financial  Committee,  composed  of  persons  whose  rank, 
talents,  and  public  and  private  worth,  will  ensure  the 
most  public  confidence,  and  give  effect  to  these  plans 
for  promoting  the  general  education  of  the  poor. 

In  concluding  this  Report,  the  Committee  think  it  in- 
cumbent on  them  to  subjoin  the  following  extract  from 


24 


their  minutes,  which  gives  a  full  exposition  of  the  actu- 
al state  of  the  finances  of  the  institution ;  and  they 
trust,  that  when  the  public  see  in  what  manner  this 
work,  so  important  to  the  welfare  of  the  country,  has 
been  carried  on,  that  they  will  generously  come  for- 
ward, not  only  to  promote  the  extension  of  the  design, 
by  an  annual  subscription,  to  the  support  of  school-mas- 
ters in  training,  but  also  by  their  donations,  to  exonerate  : 
those  Gentlemen,  who,  by  their  timely  and  liberal  ad- 
vances, have  not  only  preserved  this  system  from  ruin, 
but  have  contributed  to  its  extension,  and  secured  its  es- 
tablishment. 

"  The  Trustees,  in  conformity  to  a  minute  of  the  Fi-  I 
nance  Committee,  of  Dec.  17,  181o,  desiring  them  to  I 
lay  before  the  Committee  on  some  future  occasion  a  I 
statement  of  the  present  condition  of  Mr.  Lancaster's  I 
affairs,  specifying  what  sums  have  been  advanced  by  I 
themselves  and  others,  for  the  promotion  of  his  plans ;  I 
report, 

"  That  when,  in  1808,  they  first  examined  into  his 
affairs,  and  the  nature  of  his  embarrassments,  they  were  1 
exceedingly  gratified  to  find  that  his  debts  originated  i 
from  engagements  entered  into,  with  different  trades-  j 
men,  for  accomplishing  the  various  objects  of  rendering 
his  system  for  the  education  of  the  poor,  an  institution  ; 
for  national  benefit.    The  principal  of  these  were  foi 
Bricklayer,  Timber-merchant,  Carpenter,  Type-Foun  ; 
der,  Stationer,  Furniture,  and  other  necessaries  for  sucl 
an  establishment.     They  found,  that  although  then 
were  at  that  time  in  the  family  twenty-four  persons  t(| : 
be  boarded,  there  was  scarcely  a  debt  owing  to  an;  I 
Butcher  ;  for  the  family,  during  a  considerable  time! 
had  only  enjoyed  the  taste  of  Butcher's  meat,  when  at 
occasional  donation  at  the  school  furnished  them  wit  I 
the  means  of  purchasing  a  small  quantity. 

"  The  family  had  subsisted  chiefly  on  bread  and  milk 
and  to  the  honour  of  a  Baker  in  the  neighbourhood,  t 


'Id 

whom  there  was  a  considerable  debt  owing,  it  must  be 
mentioned,  that  when  a  degree  of  surprise  was  manifest- 
ed at  having  given  so  large  a  credit,  he  replied,  <  The 

*  good  which  Mr.  Lancaster  has  done  to  the  poor  of  this 

*  neighbourhood  is  such,  that  as  long  as  I  have  a  loaf 
4  left,  I  will  give  the  half  of  it,  to  enable  him  to  con- 
1  tinue  such  beneficial  exertions.' 

"  At  the  time  the  Trustees  undertook  the  finances, 
from  a  variety  of  causes  the  annual  subscriptions  were 
very  much  reduced,  so  that  they  not  only  had  to  dis- 
charge the  debts,  but  also  to  provide  the  means  of  de- 
fraying the  current  expenses  of  the  board,  clothing,  &c. 
of  the  institution  ;  this  has  been  regularly  done  weekly 
from  that  time  to  the  present  moment. 

"  With  a  view  to  provide  a  sum  of  money  to  enable 
them  to  meet  all  these  difficulties,  they  solicited  from 
their  friends  in  the  form  of  a  loan  to  Mr.  Lancaster,  sub- 
scriptions of  100/.  each,  by  which  they  received  the  sum 
of  4000/.  (a  list  of  the  subscribers  is  annexed.)  Of 
this  sum  560/.  have  since  been  remitted  by  the  following 
Gentlemen :  John  Maitland,  Esq.  M.  P.  Richard  Gur- 
ney,  Esq.  Hudson  Gumey,  Esq.  Joseph  Gurney,  Esq. 
and  Henry  Sterry,  Esq.  having  converted  their  loan  into 
gifts. 

"  It  appeared  very  evident  to  the  Trustees,  that  this 
great  national  work  would  be  materially  retarded  if  they 
confined  themselves  to  the  actual  subscriptions  they 
could  at  that  time  obtain  from  the  public ;  and  there- 
fore, in  addition  to  the  necessary  advances  which  had 
been  made  to  defray  the  original  debts,  they  have  advan- 
ced from  time  to  time  sums  of  money  to  make  up  the 
deficiencies  of  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  5772/.  4s. 

"  During  the  time  the  Trustees  have  thus  assisted 
Mr.  Lancaster,  he  has  been  enabled  to  diffuse  a  know- 
ledge of  his  plan,  by  giving  public  lectures  through  the 
country,  which  has  caused  the  establishment  of  schools, 
C 


26 


and  the  consequent  education  of  many  thousand  chil- 
dren. 

"  At  the  present  moment  a  respectable  annual  sub- 
scription is  raised,  amounting  to  about  1000/. ;  but  this 
is  by  no  means  adequate  to  the  current  expenses  ;  as 
the  Trustees  find  by  the  experience  of  past  years,  and 
especially  in  consequence  of  a  recent  enlargement  of 
the  family,  which  had  become  absolutely  necessary,  in 
order  to  meet  the  increasing  demands  for  masters  for 
country  schools,  that  a  sum  in  annual  subscriptions  of 
not  less  than  3008/.  will  be  necessary  to  diffuse  the  ad- 
vantages of  this  plan  of  education  through  the  whole 
country." 

From  this  exti-act  it  will  be  seen,  that  since  the  year 
1808,  when  the  gentlemen,  who  were  constituted  by 
Mr.  Lancaster  his  Trustees,  undertook  the  superintend- 
ence of  the  finances,  the  debt  of  the  institution  has  been 
increased  nearly  3000/.  This  fact  will  satisfactorily 
account  for  the  embarrassment  under  which  the  Trus- 
tees found  Mr.  L.  The  Trustees,  convinced  of  the  im- 
portant moral  benefits  which  must  result  from  the  gene- 
ral education  of  the  community,  felt  it  to  be  their  duty 
to  anticipate  the  benevolence  of  the  country,  by  afford- 
ing the  aid  so  indispensably  necessary  to  render  the 
system  effective. 

The  Committee  cannot  close  their  Report  without 
recommending  the  disinterested  conduct  of  the  Trustees 
to  the  generous  consideration  of  the  public ;  and  they 
trust  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  means  will 
be  provided  for  the  full  accomplishment  of  the  pious 
wish  of  our  venerable  Sovereign,  "  that  every  poor 
child  in  the  kingdom  may  be  taught  to  read  the  Bible." 


SUBSCRIBERS 


TO 


3IR,  LANCASTER'S  LOAN, 


Duke  of  Bedford  .  . 

Lord  Somerville    .  . 

Dyses  Alexander,  Esq 

William  Allt  n.  Esq.  . 

Sir  Franci.  Baring,  Bart. 

I.  r,  B  van,  Esq.  . 

Wil-on  Bi  kWk.  Esq. 

Astl**y  CooptT,  Esq-  . 

William  Cortton,  Esq. 

William  Dillwyo,  Esq. 

'oseph  Foster,  Esq.  . 

taeph  Fox,  Esq.  ,  . 

obn  Fot,  Esq   .   .  , 

Vili.  in.  Fry.  Esq.  .  . 

oseph  Fry,  Esq.    .  . 

•amuel  Galton.Esq.  , 
Richard  Gumry,  Esq, 
Hudson  Gumey,  Esq. 
Joseph  Gumey,  Esq. 


100 
100 
ICO 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
1O0 
100  I 

loo 
100 1 


J  Mrs.  Anna  Banbury 
1  Anthony  Home,  Esq. 


John  Hull,  Esq 
John  Jackson,  Esq.  M.  P 
Kdward  .lanson,  Esq.  . 
J.  Pooley  Kensington,  Esq. 

*  John  Mail i. nid,  Esq   m  I 
F.benezer  Maitljnd.  Esq. 
Daniel  Moore,  Esq 

■  Sir  George  Mackenzie  Bart. 
I  Robert  Owen.  Esq.  . 

Or.  Pope,      .    .    .  . 

Joshua  Reeve,  Esq.    .  , 

Samuel  Rogers  Esq. 

Joseph  Smith,  Esq.  , 

•  Henry  Sterry,  Esq. 
H.  Thornton,  Esq.  M.  P. 
John  Walker,  Esq.    .  , 
John  Wakefield.  Esq. 


£ 

100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
200 
100 
100 
100 
200 
100 


•  By  these  Gentlemen  the  loan  has  been  remitted  as  gift. 


■ 


ROYAL  BRITISH 


SYSTEM  of  EDUCATION. 


At  a  very  numerous  and  highly  respectable  Meeting 
f  the  Subscribers  and  Friends  of  the  HOYAL  LAN- 
ASTERIAN  SYSTEM  for  the  EDUCATION  of  the 
OUR,  held  at  the  Free-mason's  Tavern,  Saturday, 
'ay  11,1811  ; 

His  grace  the  DUKE  of  BEDFORD  in  the  Chair : 
On  the  Motion  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
ent,  and  seconded  by  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
ussex, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  from  a  consideration  of 
he  salutary  effects  of  Knowledge  upon  the  human  mind, 
"  e  h  tbits  of  order  which  education  creates,  and  the  per- 
nal  acquaintance  with  the  Holy  Scriptures  which  it 
reduces;  this  Meeting  anticipates  from  the  general 
ducation  of  the  Poor,  the  h.,ppiest  results  to  society, 
y  \hc  diminution  of  crimes,  and  in  the  promotion  of 
e  usefulness  of  the  great  body  of  the  people. 
On  the  Motion  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
ent,  seconded  by  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Sus- 
x, 

Resolved,  That  the  System  of  Education  invented  by 
r.  Joseph  Lancaster,  enables  one  Master  to  teach 
ading.  writing,  and  arithmetic,  to  any  number  of  chil- 
en,  by  the  agency  of  his  scholars  alone ;  at  the  same 
e  that  the  most  perfect  state  of  di  cipline  is  preserv- 
;  to  which  must  be  added,  the  reduction  of  the  price 
instruction,  according  to  ihe  number  educated,  to  10s. 
.  and  even  3s.  6d.  per  annum  for  each  child,  rendering 
in  the  whole,  an  invention  worthy  of  the  most  distia- 
uished  approbation  and  universal  adoption. 

C  2 


On  the  Motion  of  the  Marquis  of  Lansdownc,  and  se- 
conded by  Wm.  Adam,  Esq.  M.  P. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  with  the  most  lively  satisfaction 
this  meeting  contemplates  the  sanction  and  support 
which  the  Lancasterian  System  for  the  Education  of  the 
Poor,  has  received  from  their  Majesties,  and  every 
branch  of  the  Royal  Family ;  and  his  Royal  Highness 
the  Duke  of  Kent  is  most  respectfully  solicited  to  re- 
present to  the  whole  of  the  Royal  Family,  the  high 
sense  which  this  Meeting  entertains  of  a  patronage,  no 
less  important  to  the  prosperity  of  the  undertaking,  than 
indicative  of  the  affection  of  the  House  of  Brunswick,  I 
for  the  truest  interests  of  the  people. 

On  the  Motion  of  the  Marquis  of  Lansdowne,  and  se-  I 
conded  by  Lord  Keith, 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Adam  be  requested  by  this  Meet- 
ing, humbly  and  respectfully  to  express  to  his  Royal  I 
Highness  the  Prince  Regent,  the  sense  which  they  en- 
tertain of  the  gracious  communication  his  Royal  High- 
ness has  been  pleased  to  make  to  them,  and  their  grati- 
tude for  his  continued  countenance  and  support  to  the 
Lancasterian  System  of  education. 

On  the  Motion  of  the  Marquis  of  Lansdowne,  second- 
ed by  Lord  Keith, 

Resolved,  That  the  respectful  thanks  of  this  Meeting 
be  presented  to  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Kent> 
whose  friendship  to  soldiers'  children  has  been  shown  in 
that  princely  liberality  with  which  his  Royal  Highness 
has  established  a  school  in  the  Royals,  as  Colonel  of  that 
Regiment,  and  set  an  example  which,  it  is  hoped,  will 
be  universally  followed  by  Military  Commanders,  and 
thereby  promote  the  welfare,  and  do  honour  to  the  cha- 
racter of  the  British  Army. 

That  the  Thanks  of  this  Meeting  be  presented  to 
Lieutenant  Colonel  M'  Leod,  and  the  Officers  of  the  4th 
battalion  of  the  Royals,  for  \he  zeal  and  benevolence 


m 

with  which  they  have  superintended  a  Royal  Lancaster!  • 
an  School  in  that  Regiment. 

That  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Kent  be  res- 
pectfully requested  to  communicate  the  same. 

On  the  Motion  of  the  Duke  of  Kent,  and  seconded  by 
the  Duke  of  Sussex, 

Resolved,  That  the  respectful  Thanks  of  this  Meet- 
ing be  presented  to  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Gloucester,  for  the  zeal  he  has  manifested  in  promoting 
the  Lancasterian  System  of  Education,  and  particularly 
for  having  placed  a  number  of  the  youth  of  his  regiment 
under  this  excellent  mode  of  instruction. 

On  the  Motion  of  the  Duke  of  Kent,  seconded  by  the 
Duke  of  Sussex, 

Resolved,  that  the  disinterestedness  of  Mr.  Lancaster, 
in  inventing  and  carrying  into  effect  the  Royal  Lancas- 
terian System  of  Education,  merits  the  approbation  and 
support  of  the  Empire,  and  that  the  Thanks  of  thi6 
Meeting  be  presented  to  him  for  the  same. 

On  the  Motion  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Kent,  seconded  by  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Sus- 
sex, 

Resolved,  That  by  a  Report  presented  to  this  Meet- 
ing, it  appears  that,  during  the  last  four  years,  Mr.  Lan- 
caster has  taken  numerous  journies  to  diffuse  a  know- 
ledge of  his  plan  in  the  country  ;  that  he  has  at  conside- 
rable personal  expense,  travelled  near  7,4)00  miles,  lec- 
tured 140  times  to  different  audiences,  consisting  of 
near  50,000  persons,  in  which  he  has  given  such  an  im- 
petus to  public  benevolence,  that  more  than  25,000  chil- 
dren have  been  provided  with  instruction,  and  many 
thousand  pounds  have  been  raised  for  building  and  fit- 
ting up  school-rooms  and  supporting  schools  ;  for  all 
which  beneficial  exertions  he  ought  to  be  considered  a 
public  benefactor,  and  is  entitled  to  the  thanks  and  sup 
port  of  the  nation  in  general. 

On  the  motion  of  Wm,  Smith,  Esq.  M.  P. 


32 


Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Meeting  are  here- 
by given  to  the  Mayors,  Magistrates,  Clergy,  and  Gen- 
try, of  those  Cities  and  Towns  in  England  and  Scot- 
land, who  have  contributed  to  the  extension  of  the  Roy- 
al British  System  of  Education,  by  granting  to  Mr.  Lan- 
caster the  use  of  their  Town  Guild,  or  Country  Halls, 
for  the  purpose  of  detailing  the  particulars  of  his  plan, 
and  that  the  Magistrates  of  Stirling  be  particularly  dis- 
tinguished, who  permitted  their  Guild  Hall  to  be  used 
as  a  temporary  school-room  for  the  military  quartered 
there. 

On  the  motion  of  Francis  Horner,  Esq.  M.  P. 
Resolved,  That  the  moral  effects  of  the  Royal  British 
System  of  Education  are  apparent,  from  the  important 

fact,  THAT  OF  FULL  7,000  CHILDREN   WHO   HAVE  BEEN 

instructed  at  the  royal  free  school,  borough 
Road,  no  instance  has  been  known  of  any  one  of 
these  having  been  charged  with  any  criminal  of- 
FENCE in  any  Court  of  Justice. 

On  the  motion  of  E.  W.  Bootle,  Esq.  M.  P. 

Resolved,  That  the  fact  publicly  stated  by  Mr.  Lan- 
caster, that  of  the  7,000  Children  educated  at  the  Bo- 
rough Road  by  him,  no  one  of  them  has  been  made  a 
Proselyte  to  his  peculiar  Religious  opinions,  affords  a 
gratifying  proof  that  every  Religious  denomination  may 
cordially  unite  in  the  Education  of  the  Poor,  upon  the 
broad  and  liberal  basis  of  this  institution. 

On  the  motion  of  the  Hon.  James  Ambercromby,  M. 

P. 

Resolved,  That  the  energies  of  the  Royal  British  or 
Lancasterian  System,  in  developing  the  talents,  and  eli- 
citing the  faculties  of  youth  for  their  own  and  their 
country's  good,  have  been  remarkably  displayed  in  seve- 
ral boys  of  not  more  than  13  or  14  years  of  age,  huving 
superintended  thr  Borough  Road  and  other  Schools 
witli  as  much  facility  as  the  Master  himself. 

On  the  motion  of  Henry  Brougham,  Esq.  M.  P. 


38 


Resolved,  That  in  order  to  extend  the  benefits  of  the 
Royal  British  System  of  Education  to  all  parts  of  the 
Empire,  and  to  render  it  in  the  largest  sense  a  National 
Good,  it  is  requisite  that  a  considerable  number  of  youth 
of  both  Sexes  be  trained  in  the  practice  of  the  Institu- 
tion, for  the  purpose  of  undertaking  the  charge  of 
Schools. 

On  the  motion  of  Henry  Brougham,  Esq.  M.  P. 

Resolved,  That  as  the  Annual  Subscriptions  to  the  In- 
stitution are  at  present  by  no  means  adequate  to  defray 
the  Charges  of  Board,  Lodging,  and  Clothing,  of  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  Youths,  (expenses  which,  in  the  training 
of  them  to  the  period  of  their  fitness  to  take  the  charge 
of  Schools,  are  unavoidable,)  the  Friends  to  this  cause 
are  solicited  to  become  Annual  Subscribers,  of  Sums 
from  One  to  Ten  Guineas. 

On  the  motion  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Kent,  and  seconded  by  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Sussex, 

Resolved,  That  from  a  Report  presented  to  this  Meet- 
ing, it  appears,  that  the  Donations  and  Subscriptions  re- 
ceived by  Mr.  Lancaster,  prior  to  the  year  1808,  had 
fallen  short  of  the  actual  charges  for  the  erection  of 
suitable  Buildings,  and  the  maintenance  of  intended 
School-Masters,  and  that  a  considerable  Debt  has  been 
incurred  ;  for  which  the  Gentlemen  since  appointed  Mr. 
Lancaster's  Trustees,  actuated  by  an  earnest  desire  to 
prevent  the  failure  of  so  important  a  work,  and  relying 
on  the  future  support  of  a  liberal  and  beneficent  Pub- 
lic, not  only  rendered  themselves  responsible,  but  took 
measures  for  enlarging  the  operation  of  the  System. 

On  the  Motion  of  the  Duke  of  Kent,  and  seconded  by 
the  Duke  of  Sussex, 

Resolved,  That  from  a  consideration  of  the  great 
utility  of  the  object,  and  the  facility  with  which  the  be- 
nefits of  the  institution  may  be  extended,  not  only  to  all 
parts  of  the  British  Empire,  but  to  the  whole  civilized 


.14 


world,  the  donations  of  the  Public  are  solicited  to  re- 
lieve it  from  the  burthen  of  a  debt  which  amounts  to 
about  5,0001.  a  sum  which  it  is  hoped  will  not  be  con- 
sidered as  large,  when  set  against  the  gratuitous  Educa- 
tion of  near  7,000  children  in  the  Metropolis,  the  Soard, 
Clothing,  and  Training,  near  100  qualified  Teachers, 
and  the  many  thousands  now  educating  through  Mr. 
Lancaster's  exertions  in  the  country,  to  which  also  must 
be  added,  the  full  establishment  of  a  system,  which  may 
be  made  effective  to  the  instruction  of  hundreds  of 
thousands,  and  thereby  contribute  to  the  National  pros- 
perity. 

On  the  motion  of  the  Duke  of  Sussex,  and  seconded 
by  the  Duke  of  Kent, 

Resolved,  That  the  Thanks  of  this  Meeting  be  given 
to  those  Noblemen  and  Gentlemen  who  have  undertaken 
to  act  as  a  Committee  in  aid  of  the  Finances  of  this  In- 
stitution. 

Resolved,  That  these  Resolutions  be  published. 

(Signed)  BEDFORD. 


